by Diana Gebbia, Contributing Writer
Themes of motherhood, one unhinged Deadite, and non-stop gore make Lee Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise one mother of a movie — literally and metaphorically. Cronin brings some much-needed new blood (no pun intended) to this franchise, while still working in elements from its predecessors.
The plot of Evil Dead Rise stays true to the franchise’s other films. Curiosity gets the best out of someone who reads a passage out loud from the Necronomicon, or book of the dead. The incantation releases a demon that takes over an innocent host that will stop at nothing to possess or destroy anyone in its path.
Cronin’s makes some interesting diversions from the previous films. This is the first Evil Dead movie whose main setting isn’t a cabin in the woods. Instead, the destruction takes place in a Los Angeles high rise. And this time, the demon isn’t coming for a group of friends. It takes over a mom named Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), who turns against her adorable family, which includes her sister, Beth (Lily Sullivan), and her three children. It’s refreshing to see a fully female-led Evil Dead movie.
It was a smart move on Cronin’s part to make the movie’s villain a doting mother. He strategically has the audience fall in love with the family, making their predicament even more painful to watch. The fact that Ellie is out to destroy her own children and sister arguably makes her the franchise’s most ruthless Deadite. And Sutherland’s effortlessly sinister performance takes evil to the next level. Her cringey contortions and disturbing stares prove she was born to play one.
Sullivan does very well as the franchise’s latest hero. Beth’s no-nonsense personality, the love she has for her nieces and nephews, and her relatable human moments (like not knowing how to use a shotgun while trying to fight off a Deadite) show off her acting range. This is Sullivan’s debut film, and I have a feeling it won’t be her last.
Evil Dead fans will love the Easter eggs planted throughout the film, including a well-hidden cameo from Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) himself. These fun nods to the originals add to Evil Dead Rise’s re-watch factor. Plus, there’s plenty of comedy to keep audiences laughing at all the right times.
Some die-hard fans have criticized the movie’s departures from original storylines, but it’s been 42 years since The Evil Dead came out. Times have drastically changed since then, and Cronin does his best to incorporate those changes into the plot. Watching the same movie over and over again would be boring. We’re in the age of the horror requel, as proven by Scream (2022) and Halloween Ends. Evil Dead Rise’s variations are a breath of fresh air to the franchise.
Evil Dead Rise is not a perfect movie by any means. Parts of the pacing could have been re-worked to expand on more impactful scenes. But it is an entertaining horror movie with plenty of gore and fun kills. It works as both requel to the original films, a standalone.
All in all, it’s a good time, and a must-see for horror fans.
Score: 7/10
Evil Dead Rise is currently playing in theaters
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